Meet the team
Autonomy Care Group Directors:
Andrew Dykes
Chairman
Andrew is a non-practising barrister whose initial career was in marine insurance where he specialised in oil pollution of the sea.
After a Sloan Fellowship at the London Business School in 1986-87 he branched out into other fields and has held directorships of several companies.
He has been involved in the care of people with learning disabilities as an owner/operator since 1997 and is closely involved with the operation of the services provided.
Donna Taundry
Director
Having been brought up with a brother and sister with disabilities and complex needs, Donna Taundry has had personal experiences of the challenges involved in supporting and caring for individuals from a siblings perspective.
Donna has nearly 20 years experience of working with adults with learning disabilities and associated disorders and has been working for the company for over 15 years now.
Donna has many qualifications including the registered managers award as well as other qualifications in care and behavioural support.
Steve Tayler
Director
Steve has over 20 years experience of working alongside individuals with profound learning disabilities, challenging behaviours and or complex health care needs. Steve has been a member of the management team since May 2008, and Director since 2016.
Steve has obtained his level 4 management award, in addition to the relevant mandatory training requirements.
Lucy Jolliffe
Commercial Director
Lucy achieved her CIMA qualification in 1997. Her career progressed over the following years primarily within manufacturing organisations reaching Director of Finance before taking a career break to raise a family.
Lucy Joined the company in 2010 predominantly to oversee the accounting function, however, her role has now developed to manage all aspects of finance, admin and HR for the company.
Autonomy Life - The Willows and Willows View Team:
Pete Bates
Registered Manager
The registered manager for the Willows. He has worked in health and social care for 26 years with people with learning disabilities and complex needs. He has worked in England and Wales in both the private and charitable sectors at Manager and Regional Manager level.
Pete is our Positive Behaviour support lead, overseeing the delivery of Positive Behaviour Management training for all our services. He has attained a Level 5 diploma in Health and Social Care and is a Manual Handling Trainer and Person-centred Planning facilitator.
Mika Ap Ellis
Assistant Manager
Mika has worked in health and social care for the last 7 years fulfilling various roles as a support/care worker, key worker, team leader and trainee assistant manager. Mika is now the assistant manager of The Willows and Willow View supporting adults with complex and challenging behaviours. Mika has achieved an A-level and level 3 QCF qualification in health and social care and she is now working towards her level 5 in management.
More recently Mika received an award for young inspirational manager and is a dignity champion always striving for ways to ensure the most dignified care is given. Mika believes strongly in promoting independence and supporting individuals to live a meaningful life through person centred support.
Natalie Dew
Trainee Assistant Manager
Natalie has worked in health and social care for the last 5 years fulfilling various roles such as support/care worker, key worker and team leader. Natalie is working towards gaining management skills and knowledge in her new role.
Natalie empowers and promotes independence in supporting the service users we support through a person centred approach to their care.
Autonomy Life - The Oaks Team:
Adina Iures
Registered Manager
Working at The Oaks for over 7 years having started as a support worker, progressing to team leader and now the Registered Manager.
She achieved level 2 in Health and Social Care, level 2 in Team Leading and QCF level 5 in Health and Social Care. She also has a degree in psychology achieved at the University in Bucharest.
She enjoys working with people with challenging behaviour and finds her job really rewarding. She believes that when you work in care you need to have empathy for the people that you support, and they will reward you back with happiness and progression.
Autonomy Care - Wiltshire:
Amanda Wheeler
Registered Manager
Her career in care started in Plymouth where she achieved NVQ 3 in Health and Social Care at Plymouth College. After leaving college in 2009, Amanda went to work in Plymouth hospital as a healthcare assistant.
Having progressed through various healthcare sectors from hospitals, domiciliary care to supported living, she was then seconded to work in a dementia home in Bath.
Amanda started working for Autonomy Care in November 2018 and looks forward to making a positive impact and difference to service users, staff and family members within her role.
Rhona Sievewright
Acting Trainee Assistant Manager
Over 6 years ago, Rhona joined the team as a bank support worker progressing to a full time role, working in all aspects of care. Her career covers domiciliary, complex needs, end of life and behaviours that challenge. She later progressed to a senior role in recognition of her contribution to the company.
In July 2019 Rhona was promoted to acting trainee assistant manager and is loving her new challenge.
Autonomy Care - Worcester:
Emma Cropper
Community Services Manager
Emma has over 8 years experience working with adults and more recently children with complex needs and other associated health and behavioural difficulties.
She is currently the Registered Manager of Autonomy Care Worcestershire, a diverse and innovative service for children, adults and the elderly with complex needs, behavioural difficulties and other associated health needs.
Emma is also one of the behavioural trainers for the company, training all staff techniques to keep themselves, the clients and others safe when supporting complex individuals.
She is passionate, empathetic and from a very young age always wanted to help others.
Autonomy Plus - Haresfield:
Andy Wilkes
Service Manager
Andy qualified as a Social Worker in 2007 and has spent much of his career working in Childrens’ and Family Services, supporting children who are in care and their foster families. He has managed fostering teams for local authorities and independent fostering agencies, developing skills and knowledge which contribute to his role as Service Manager at Haresfield.
He is passionate about providing the highest possible standards of care to the children and young people we support at Haresfield. He also facilitates a range of meaningful activities and experiences that support positive outcomes. Andy’s aim is to provide a safe and homely environment at Haresfield, plus a workplace that is welcoming and friendly, which helps him maintain a stable and skilled support team.
Sandra Brailey
Assistant Manager
Sandra has had 20 years experience supporting individuals with Learning Difficulties, Challenging Behaviour, Complex Health Care needs and young people with Emotional and Behaviour Difficulties.
Sandra began her career as a support worker in 1998 at a Respite Home before moving on in 2001 to a Residential Children’s home. During this time Sandra completed her NVQ 3 and NVQ 4 in Health and Social Care and took on the role of Assistant Manager.
Sandra joined the management team at Autonomy Care in December 2015, subsequently transferring to the management team at Haresfield in 2019.
Autonomy Care Group - Head Office:
Hazel Wordley
HR Executive
Hazel’s career began in administration gaining experience in various industries including manufacturing, health and social care and recruitment, progressing into supervisory and office management roles.
Having developed an interest in employee relations and employment law Hazel achieved her CIPD Level 5 Intermediate Certificate in HR Management. She pursued a career in Human Resources and joined Autonomy Care Group in August 2017 as HR Executive to support the group and service managers with all aspects of Human Resources.
Scott Dawson
Assistant Finance Manager
Scott has been working in accounts for over 7 years, mainly in the hospitality sector, continuously gaining experience and pushing himself to maintain a high level of professionalism in everything he does. He moved to the Autonomy Care Group in June 2018 to help progress his career and has settled in quickly becoming a respected member of the finance team. He hopes to maintain his career progression by obtaining his Chartered accountancy qualification in the coming years.
Steph Pearce
HR/Admin Assistant
After Steph finished school and college, she started her first full time job in an apprenticeship working towards her level 3 in Business Administration.
Upon completion of her apprenticeship, she starting her role as Admin / HR assistant with Autonomy Care Group in October 2018. Steph is keen to progress her knowledge of HR and plans to start her CIPD Level 3 qualification in September 2019.